Combination crib and playpen



W. T. POWER COMBINTION CRIB AND PLAYPEN Sept. 8, 1953 4/ shetssheet 1 Filed June 25 ,A 1951 I mi.,

FIG. I.

` *t ventor Y W/LLIM 7.' POWER Cttorneg Sgpt. 8, 1953 w. T. POWER 2,651,057

COMBINATION CRIBAND PLAYPEN Filed June 25, 1951 4 SheebS-Sheet 2 m El/15M FIG. 2. I

Y Ai .Mh Zmnentor (Ittorneg Sept. 8, 1953 w. T. POWER 2,551,057

' COMBINATION -CRIB AND PLAYPEN Filed June 23, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 @9 MEW W. T. POWER COMBINATION CRIB AND PLAYPEN 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 25, 1951 FIG. 6.

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FIG. 8.

ZSnventor W/LL//M I POWER Patented Sept. 8, 1953 UNITED `STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION CRIB AND PLAYPEN William'T. Power, New York, N. Y.

`Application June 23, 1951, Serial No. 233,140

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a combination crib and playpen and more particularly to a crib which is readily convertible into a playpen and back again. Heretoiore `cribs have been proposed which could be modified to form a playpen, but the structure was diicult to manipulate and the extra parts thereof could not be stored readily when not in use.

One object of this invention is a crib which is so constructed Ythat it can be quickly and easily converted into a playpen and back again.

Another object is a combination crib and playpen which is so constructed that certain parts can be collapsed, folded and stored, when notI in use, and just as quickly removed from storage. opened and assembled to convert the crib into a playpen by a simple rearrangement of certain of the crib, and of the stored, parts.

Other objects will appear from the detailed description which follows:

In the drawings comprising four sheets of eight figures numbered Figs. 1 -to 8 vinclusive one physical structure embodying the invention in the form at present preferred is illustrated.

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of the apparatus when assembled as a crib with certain of the playpen parts compactly folded up and stored away;

Fig. 2 `is an isometric view of the crib with :the playpen parts partially extended preparatory to combining them with the crib assembly to -convert it `into a playpen;

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of the playpen;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the playpen when the playpen is withdrawn from beneath the crib with certain parts of the playpen shown in broken lines to indicate the open position of the playpen;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional View taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View of a fragment taken along the line 6--5 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figs. '7 and 8 are cross-sectional views `of la fragment showing certain of the parts in enlarged detail.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the vseveral figures `,oi the drawings.

The crib 2l) includes the usual headboard 2| supported between the headposts 22 and 2,3, and the footboard 24 supported between the footposts 25 and 26. The headboard 2| and the footboard 24 are secured together lin spaced relation by the side bars 2l and .28 (Figs. 1 and 5), which are attached between the headposts and footposts 22, 25 and 23, 23 respectively, in any preferred manner as by means of the screw bolts 2.9 and 30. lThe side frames 3|, 3| are interchangeable. Each side frame 3| consists of an upper bar 3.2 and a lower bar 33 having a series of 4suitably spaced rods 34, 3Q attached between said upper and lower bars 33 in any preferred manner as by welding.

The lower bar 33 of each side frame 3i is detachably `supported upon Yone of the side bars 2l or 2B, and the upper bar 32 of each side frame 3| is slidably mounted in the guide channels 35, 35 which are secured to the headposts 22, 23 and to the footposts 25, 26 in any suitable manner as by the rivets 33, 3S (Fig. 6).. The opposite ends of each upper bar 3.2 may be suitably rounded off to form the heads 31, 37| (Fig. 3), which slide readily up and vdown in the guide channels 35, 35.

To insure correct registry between each lower bar 33 of the side frame 3| and the side bars 2 or 2B, each lower bar 33 may be provided with a pair of .downwardly `depending spaced flanges 38, A38 suitably secured to the lower bar at spaced intervals as by the rivets 353-33, so that when the lower .bar 33 is in correct alignment with the side bar 21 or 28 the paired a-nges 33, 3B will Aengage opposite edge faces ci' the side bar 21 or .28 to support and retain its associated side frame ,3| in .position of cooperative registry.

The crib 2B assembled with its side frames 3|, 3| is shown generally in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The crib may be provided with a conven- Y tional spring (not shown) which may be supported upon the upper `edge faces of the crossbars 4B, vlll which extend crossw-ise between the headposts 2.2, 23 fand the foctposts 25, 2.3 respectively, to support a suitable spring and mattress structure l2 indicated by the broken dash lines (Figs. 3 and 5).

When the side frames 3|, 3| are assembled with their rounded head ends 3l, 3l positioned in the guide channels 35, 35 and their iiangee 38, 38 embracing the opposite edge faces of the side bars 2l and 28, the structure forms the crib (Fig. 1) for supporting a spring structure (not shown), vand a mattress 42, which spring and mattress may be of any conventional type. The rounded head ends .37, 3l of each upper bar 32 are free -to slide up and down in the guide channels 35, 35 when its associated side frame 3| is raised or lowered to bring its lower bar 33 and its associated depending anges 38, 3S into and out o1 the position of cooperative registry relative to the side bar 21 or 28 as the case may be.

The crib (Fig. 1) may be converted into a playpen (Fig. 3) by pulling out and opening up the collapsible extension D (Fig. 2) and combining it with the crib as shown in Fig. 3, as hereinafter set forth.

The collapsible extension 50 (Fig. 2) consists of a base frame 5I (Fig. 2) formed of the side bars 52, 52 and the end bars 53, 53 secured together at their adjoining ends in any preferred manner as by rivets, screws or pins 54, or by welding or brazing. Each side bar 52 is supported by a pair of spaced legs 55, which are pivotally mounted upon their associated side bars 52 by the pins 56, so that the legs 55 are free to swing from a horizontal position, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2, to an upright position, as shown by full lines in Fig. 2. Thus whenever the collapsible extension 50 is extended, the legs 55 may be swung around the pins 56 from the broken line, to the full line position (Fig. 2), to support the base frame 5I above the floor at a suitable level (compare Figs. 1 and 3).

The lower bars 58, 58 of the end frames 51, 51 are hinged at 59, 59 (Figs. 6 to 8) to the end bars 53, 53 of the base frame 5|, so that the end frames 51, 51 may swing about their hinges 59, 59 as indicated by the arrows (Figs. 2 and 4) from closed, to open, position (compare Figs. 2, 4 and 3, also Figs. '1 and 8).

The collapsible extension 58 is provided with a platform consisting of the relatively slidable floorings 68, 6| which are individually rockably supported for relative sliding movement in any suitable manner as by means of the transversely spaced forked blocks 62, 63 (Fig. 5) which are mounted to rock upon the U-shaped rods or bails 64, 65 (Figs. 3 and 4). The opposite ends of the U-shaped rods 64, 65 are angularly bent at 66, 66 (Fig. 4). The angularly bent opposite ends 66, 66 are suitably anchored to the lower bars 58, 58 as by welding so that when the end frames 51, 51 swing about the hinges 59, 59 the lower bars 58, 58 move from the position shown in Figs. 5 and '7 to the position shown in Figs. 6 and 8, thus swinging the bails 64, 64 through an arc of 90 degrees to elevate the forked blocks 62 and 63 thus sliding the floorings 60 and 6l outwards in opposite directions while simultaneously raising the floorings to form a platform substantially as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, and as shown in the broken lines in Fig. 4.

One or more guide rods 61 (Fig. 4) is suitably fastened to the spacing block 68 which is secured beneath the flooring 6|, and said guide rod(s) 61 is (are) mounted to slide in an opening formed in the spacing block(s) 69, 69 which is (are) attached beneath the flooring 60 (Fig. 4) so that when relative sliding movement is imparted to the iloorings 60 and 6I by swinging the end frames 51, 51 the guide rod(s) 61 slide(s) through the spacing block(s) 69 to guide the telescopic movement of the floorings 60 and 6I. To retain the guide rod 61 upon its spacing block 69, a suitable stop such as the cotter pin 10 (Fig. 3) may be inserted through a hole drilled in the outer end of the rod 61 (see Fig. 3).

The transversely spaced forked blocks 62. 63 and the spacing blocks 68 and 69 may all be secured to the relatively slidable floorings 68 or 6I in any suitable manner, as by the rivets 1I (Fig. 3).

The latches 12 (Fig. 3) are pivotally secured to the upper bars of the end frames 51 by the pins 13. The latches 12 may be notched at 14 (Fig. 3) to engage the necks 15 of the rounded heads 31 (Fig. 3), thus retaining the notches 14 in engagement with the necks 15 of the rounded head ends 31. The latches 16 (Fig. 1) are pivotally secured near lthe upper ends of the headposts 22, 23 and footposts 25, 26 by the pins 11. The latches 16 are notched to hook around the upper bars of the end frames 51, 51 (see Fig. 3). The latches 16 retain the end frames 51, 51 in an erect position (Fig. 3), and the latches 12, 12 hook around the necks 15, 15 of the rounded head ends 31, 31 to secure the upper bar 32 of the side frame 3l in an erect position, between the end frames 51, 51 (Fig. 3) to complete the playpen extension. The downwardly depending flanges 31, 38 which project from the lower bar 33 of side frame 3l embrace the edge faces of the side bar 52 of base frame 5I (Fig. 3) to help retain the side frame 3| in an erect position.

When the collapsible extension 50 is folded up it forms a traylike or drawerlike structure which slides in and out beneath the spring structure 42 along the angle shaped guide channels 18 into stored position substantially as shown in Fig. 1. The opposite ends of the guide channels 18 are provided with slotted openings 19, 19 (Fig. 3) for the guide studs 80, 80 which depend from the end bars 53, 53 (Figs. 7 and 8). The studs 80, 89 register in the slotted openings 19, 19 when the collapsible extension 50 is fully folded and properly stored beneath the crib (Figs. 5 and '7), and also register in certain of the slotted openings 19, 19 when the collapsible extension 50 is properly extended (Fig. 8), thereby correctly aligning the base frame 5l of the collapsible extension 50 with the frame of the crib 20, to support the playpen unit.

The spring or mattress structure 42 may form the crib-floor or said spring or mattress may be supported upon a separate floor member, in any preferred manner.

In any event the slidable floorings 68, 6I when elevated will form a platform substantially level with the level of the crib-floor, so that when the floor pad 8| (Fig. 6) is spread over the raised platform of the extension unit, the surface of the padded platform will be flush with the surface of the spring or mattress 42 or of any other floor-covering associated with the crib unit.

The end corners of the slidable oorings 60, 6I may be notched at 82 (Fig. 2) to receive the spaced legs 55 when the said legs are folded in collapsed position (Fig. 1).

Various modifications of my combination crib and play-pen structure will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a crib convertible into a playpen and back again at will, the combination with a crib com-I prising head and foot boards, guide rails secured across said head and foot boards, side bars secured to said head and foot boards to retain them erect in spaced relation to form a crib frame, side frames movable into and out of cooperative registry with said head and foot boards to complete the crib frame, channels secured to said head and foot boards wherein said sideY including side bars and end bars suitably fastenedv i together, two end frames, each end frame includ- 5. ingl a lowerbar, said lower bars being respectively hingedly connected to the head and foot ends of said base frame, said end frames being swingable towards and away from each other about said hinged connections to convert said crib to and from a playpen, sections of flooring, one associated with each end frame, one end of each section of flooring being linked to its associated end frame, the ends of said sections opposite their linked ends overlapping in the closed position of said end frames, the swinging movement of said end frames imparting relative in and out movement to said overlapped iiooring sections to provide a platform extension of the floor of the crib.

2. In a convertible crib and playpen, the combination with a crib comprising head and foot boards, guide channels secured to said head and foot boards, side bars secured to said head and foot boards to retain them erect in spaced relation to form a crib frame, side frames slidably mounted in said guide channels to move into and out of cooperative registry with said side bars to complete the crib frame, and guide rails secured across said head and foot boards, of a folding playpen unit comprising a base frame slidably supported by said guide rails from extended to closed position in the Operation of converting the crib to and from a, playpen, said base frame including side bars and end bars suitably fastened together, two end frames, each end frame including a lower bar, said lower bars being respectively hingedly connected to the head and foot ends of said base frame, said end frames being swingable towards and away from each other about said hinged connections to convert said crib to and from a playpen, sections of flooring, one associated with each end frame, each section of flooring having one end linked to its associated end frame, the ends of said sections opposite their respective linked ends being free, one of said free ends overlapping the other in the closed position of said end frames, and the swinging movement of said end frames imparting relative in and out movement to said lapped ilooring sections to provide a platform extension of the floor of the crib.

3. In a crib structure convertible into a playpen and back again, the combination with a crib comprising head and foot boards, side bars secured to said head and foot boards to retain them erect in spaced relation to form a crib frame, a floor supported by said crib frame, guide channels secured to said head and foot boards, side frames mounted to slide up and down in said guide channels into and out of cooperative registry with said side bars to complete the crib frame, and guide rails secured across said head and foot boards beneath the crib frame, of a folding extension unit comprising a base frame supported by said guide rails and slidable therealong from closed to extended position in the operation of converting the structure from a crib to a playpen, said base frame including side bars and end bars fastened together, two end frames, each end frame including a lower bar, said lower bars being respectively hingedly connected to the end bars of said base frame, said end frames being swingable about said hinged connections towards each other into a prone position when said extension unit is folded and away from each other to an erect position when said extension unit is unfolded to convert said crib into a playpen, two sections of flooring one for each end frame, each section of ilooring being linked to its associated end frame, the swinging movement of said end frames about said end bars imparting relative inward and downward movement to fold, and outward and upward movement to extend, said flooring sections, and said flooring sections when extended forming a platform, said platform and the floor of the crib in conjunction forming the floor of the playpen.

4. In a crib convertible into a play-pen and back again, the combination with a crib comprising a head-board, va foot-board, side bars secured to said head and foot boards to hold them erect and in spaced relation, a floor for the crib, said iioor extending between said head and foot boards, vertical guide channels associated with said head and foot boards, side frames mounted to slide up and down in said guide channels into and out of cooperative registry with said side bars to complete the crib enclosure, and guide rails secured across said head and foot-boards below the side bars, of a folding extension unit comprising a base frame having its oppositely disposed head and foot ends supported by said guide rails to permit said unit to slide underneath said crib oor to and from the closed and the extended positions of said unit, a head-endframe, a foot-end-frame, the bottoms of said head and foot end-frames being respectively hingedly connected to the head and foot ends of said base frame to permit said end-frames to swing towards and away from each other about said hinged connections in converting said crib and play-pen structures, two sections of iiooring, each section of flooring having one end rockably coupled to an end frame and its opposite end free, the free ends of said sections overlapping, and the swinging movement of said end frames imparting relative movement to said sections of ilooring to provide a platform in extension of the floor of the crib.

5. In a crib convertible into a play-pen and back again, said crib comprising a head-board, a foot-board, side bars secured to said head and foot boards to hold them erect and in spaced relation, a oor for the crib, said iloor extending between said head and foot boards, vertical guide channels associated with said head and foot boards, guide rails secured across said head and foot boards below the side bars, a folding extension unit comprising a base frame having its oppositely disposed head and foot ends supported by said guide rails to permit said unit to slide underneath said side bars from the closed to the extended position of said unit and back again in the operation of converting the structure from a crib to a play-pen and back again, a head-endframe, a foot-end-frame, the bottoms of said head and foot end-frames being respectively hingedly connected to the head and foot ends of said base frame to permit said end-frames to swing towards and away from each other about said hinged connections to convert said crib to and from a play-pen, two sections of iiooring, said sections of flooring being rockably coupled to said end-frames, the swinging movement of said end-frames imparting a relative in-and-out and an upward and downward movement to said sections of flooring to provide a platform level with the iloor of the crib, two side frames slidably demountably mounted in said vertical guide channels and cooperating with said side bars to complete the crib enclosure, and means for securing said head and foot end-frames to said head-board and said foot-board to retain the extension unit in extended position,

6. In a crib convertible into a play-pen and back again, said crib comprising a head-board. a foot-board, side bars secured between said head and foot boards to space them in erect relation, a iioor for the crib, said floor extending between said head and foot boards, vertical guide channels associated with said head and foot boards, guide rails secured across said head and footboards below the side bars, a folding extension unit comprising a base frame having its oppositely disposed head and foot ends supported by said guide rails to permit said unit to slide underneath said crib-floor from the closed to the extended position of said unit and back again in the operation of converting the structure from a crib to a play-pen and back again, a head-end-frame, a foot-end-frarne, the bottoms of said head and foot end-frames being respectively hingedly connected to the head and foot ends of said base frame to permit said end-frames to swing inwardly and outwardly about said hinge connections to convert said crib to and from a playpen, a platform comprising two sections having their adjacent ends lapped and their remote ends rockably coupled to said end-frames, the outward swinging movement of said end-frames slidably extending said lapped sections to deiine a platform and elevating said ,platform to the approximate level of the crib-floor, two side frames removably mounted in said vertical guide channels in cooperative registry with said side bars to complete the crib enclosure, means for locking said head and said foot end-frames to said headboard and said foot-board, one of said side frames being slidably removable from said guide channels and detachably supportable between said end-frames to complete the said play-pen enclosure, and means for locking said side frame to said end-frames to retain said platform in elevated position.

WILLIAM T. POWER.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 139,829 Snyder June 10, 1873 902,684 Rademaker Nov. 3, 1908 1,055,095 Sosaya Mar. 4, 1913 1,192,385 Busse July 25, 1916 1,267,260 Myers May 21, 1918 2,477,231 Bourdon July 26, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 399,276 Italy Oct. 23, 1942 654,090 Germany Dec. 10, 1937 

